International spice conference at Goa to focus on sustainability and safety of spices

KOCHI: Sustainability and food safety of the spice industry will be the central theme of the international spice conference to be hosted by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) from January 21 at Goa.

The four-day conference held in association with Cochin Chamber of Commerc, is aimed at making India a processing hub for spices and spice products and their derivatives in the long term. AISEF chairman Gulshan John said the industry is expecting the Indian spice industry volumes to grow to $ 5 billion by 2020 from the current $2.43 billion.

`` The conference will deliberate on the challenges and possible solutions for the spice industry for the 21st century and beyond,’’ said John adding that stringent product quality requirements, backward integration and intensive research and export – trade agreements with emerging markets have become the need of the hour.

AISEF will sign an MoU with IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, a Netherlands-based foundation, for collectively working on projects and initiatives for creating clean, safe and sustainable spices in India.

AISEF is planning to make this conference an annual event. `` The trend in spice industry has shifted from commodity exports to spice derivatives like flavours and fragrances. So there is a need for a forum for discussion annually exclusively promoted by the industry,’’ said Philip Kuruvila, chairman of World Spice Organisation and member of Sustainable Spice Initiative.

The four-day conference will be inaugurated by European Spice Association chairman Nils Meyer Pries. Over 500 participants including 150 international delegates have registered for the event, John said.